Hipstergate: SNP denies mocking respected journalist

Journalist ‘lampooned’ in video MSP makes complaint about accuracy

The SNP has been accused of ‘Trumpian tactics’ amid claims it has lampooned journalist David Torrance in a party political broadcast. Torrance is on the right next to the character that is thought to resemble him on the SNP video

The SNP has been accused of “Trumpian tactics” amid claims it has lampooned Nicola Sturgeon’s biographer, journalist David Torrance, in a party political broadcast.

A complaint has been made to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom following the screening of the programme.

The broadcast featured a character called “Davey”, who some social media users said they think bears a resemblance to Mr Torrance.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-hamilton has written to Ofcom about the broadcast, also complaining that the SNP used the programme to take credit for free personal care – a policy introduced by the Lib Dems before the SNP came to power.

Like Mr Torrance, the Davey character has a beard and seethrough framed glasses.

Mr Torrance is a journalist who has in the past criticised the SNP. As well as his biography of Ms Sturgeon, he has also written an unauthorised version of former first minister Alex Salmond’s life story.

The broadcast borrows from the “what have the Romans done for us?” scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. “Davey” is seen being shunned by guests as he attempts to criticise the SNP. He is seen asking fellow party goers “what has the SNP ever done for us?

His fellow guests subsequently list various achievements, including free university tuition, the Queensferry Crossing, fracking ban, free prescriptions, the small business bonus, extra childcare and affordable housing.

Also mentioned is free personal care for the elderly – a policy that was introduced by the old Scottish Executive before the SNP came to power.

Davey is later seen being left alone at the party before being confronted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and then humiliated by a can of beer spraying in his face.

Mr Cole-hamilton said: “It’s a worrying development when a governing party use Trumpian tactics to ridicule prominent journalists who rightly scrutinise both their achievements in office, and their lack thereof, and challenge the case for independence.

“The policy of free personal care for the elderly was brought in five years before the SNP took office, in 2002. I believe that it is inappropriateandwilfullymisleadingfor a government to claim credit for the achievements of others to bolster its record after ten years of office and to use a free broadcast on public service television to do so.”

Mrcole-hamiltonhastabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament accusing the SNP of appearing to mock a journalist and inviting its supporters to do so.

Mr Torrance said: “Surely the SNP are not so insecure and puerile as to purposely parody a certain political commentator. Surely they are above that kind of thing.

“The real David Torrance would have been a much more effectivecontrarianandwould have pointed out that some of these things owed rather more to previous administrations than the SNP.”

A SNP spokesman said: “As the party broadcast demonstrates, the SNP have worked hard to deliver for the people of Scotland. Meanwhile, the few remaining Lib Dems devote their time to conspiracies theories such as this.”

newsdeskts@scotsman.com